Monday, April 11, 2005
Ban deadlines on phone cards: NTC to Congress
AN OFFICIAL of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is urging Congress to pass a law prohibiting Smart and Globe from setting an expiry date on phone cards purchased by customers.
NTC 7 Director Danilo Sy pointed out that every P300 Smart or Globe card is good for only 60 days regardless of whether it was fully consumed. Beyond 60 days, unused loads will be forfeited.
“That is confiscatory. That is unfair to the public,” Sy said.
In 2000, the NTC issued a memorandum circular prohibiting all mobile phone companies, including Smart and Globe, from setting a duration period for their cards.
However, Sy said telecommunications firms secured a temporary restraining order from the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC), which stopped the NTC’s memorandum circular.
The NTC appealed the case before the Court of Appeals and then to the Supreme Court, which ordered that the case be sent back to the RTC for trial.
That SC order was issued five years ago, but the case remains pending before the Quezon City RTC. As a result, the NTC cannot impose its circular against the time limit for mobile phone cards.
“To give justice to the public, Congress must pass a law prohibiting the limits on mobile phone cards,” Sy said.
Sy believes that Congress will speed up the passage of the law against cellular phone card duration if people from all walks of life will sign petitions.
Different city and municipal councils and provincial boards can also pass resolutions pressing their respective district lawmakers to support such a law.
Sy also said Congress may insert a provision for telecommunications companies to register all SIM packs sold to the public.
Sy said this will protect the public from being victimized by unscrupulous persons who send them malicious text messages.
He said the NTC can hardly trace the numbers of persons who send text messages on several raffles scams, because these are not registered. EOB
(April 11, 2005 issue)
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